Landsat TM image segmentation for delineating geological zone correlated vegetation stratification in the Kruger National Park,South Africa

Image classification approaches are widely used in mapping vegetation on remotely sensed images. Vegetation assemblages are equivalent to habitats. Whereas sub-pixel classification approaches potentially can produce more realistic, homogenous habitat maps, pixel-based hard classifier approaches often result in non-homogenous habitat zones. This salt-and-pepper habitat mapping is particularly a challenge on images of savannas, given the characteristic patchy texture of scattered trees and grass. Image segmentation techniques offer possibilities for homogenous habitat classification. This study aimed at establishing the extent to which established, field surveyed and geology-related vegetation types in South Africa’s Kruger National Park (KNP) can be reproduced using image segmentation. Rain season Landsat TM images were used, selected to coincide with the peak in vegetation productivity, which was deemed the time of year when discrimination between key habitats in KNP is most likely to be successful. The multiresolution segmentation mode in eCognition 5.0 was employed, object classification accomplished using the nearest neighbour (NN) classifier, using object texture and training area mean values in the NN feature space.Compared to delineations of the vegetation types of KNP on a digital map of the vegetation zones that was tested, image segmentation successfully mapped the zones (overall accuracy 85.3%, K^ = 82.7%) despite slight shifts in the location of vegetation zone boundaries. Maximum likelihood classification (MLC) of the same images was only 37% accurate (K^ = 24.2%). Whereas the vegetation zones resulting from MLC were non-homogenous, with considerable spectral confusion among the vegetation zones, image segmentation produced more homogenous vegetation zones, comparably more useful for conservation management, because realistic and meaningful habitat maps are important in biodiversity conservation as input data upon which to base management decisions. Image segmentation appears to be a useful approach in mapping savanna vegetation.     

Attempts to create ball lightning with triggered lightning

We describe attempts to create ball lightning by directing lightning, triggered from natural thunderclouds using the rocket-and-wire technique, through a variety of materials. Some of the observed phenomena have features in common with natural ball lightning or with laboratory attempts to create it: flame-like luminosity for up to 0.5 s above salt water; constant-luminosity silicon fragments falling for about 1 s under the influence of gravity; a 0.7 m region of stationary luminosity whose bottom was 0.3 m above a stainless steel surface to which arcing had occurred; and a glow for about 0.5 s above pine tree sections.     

Tidally-induced sediment transport patterns in the upper Bay of Fundy: A numerical study

The Minas Basin, the eastern end of the Bay of Fundy, is well known for its high tide ranges and strong tidal currents, which can be exploited to extract electricity power. The properties of the tidally-induced sediment transport in the Minas Basin, where significant changes in tidal processes may occur due to a recently proposed tidal power project, have been studied with a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, an empirical bed load sediment transport model and surface sediment concentrations derived from the remotely-sensed images. The hydrodynamic model was evaluated against independent observational data, which include tidal elevation, tidal current (in the full water column and bottom layer), residual current profile and tidal asymmetry indicators. The evaluation shows that the model is in good agreement with the observations.The sediment transport includes two components, bed load and suspended particulate load. The bed load is calculated using the modelled bottom shear stress and the observed grain size data. The estimated features of bed load transport roughly agree with the observed patterns of the erosion and deposition in the Minas Basin and Cobequid Bay. The transport of the suspended load is estimated using the modelled velocity fields and the surface sediment concentration derived from remote-sensing images. The comparisons between the modelled results and the limited observations illustrate that the observed directions of suspended sediment transport are basically reproduced by the model. The modelled net suspended sediment input into the Minas Basin through Minas Passage is 2.4×10⁶ m³ yr^?1, which is comparable to the observed value of 1.6×10⁶ m³ yr^?1.The variations of the bed load and the suspended load in space and time are also presented. The total net transport, defined as the mean value of the sum of bed and suspended load transports during the tidal cycle, shows strong spatial variability. The magnitude of the transport flux ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 kg m^?1 s^?1 in Minas Channel and Minas Passage, 0.1 kg m^?1 s^?1 in Cobequid Bay, to 0.01 kg m^?1 s^?1 in the central Minas Basin and Southern Bight. In Minas Channel, the sediment transport follows the structure of the tidal residual circulation, which features a large anticlockwise gyre. The sediment in Minas Passage moves eastward and deposits into the central Minas Basin. However, the sediment from the eastern part of the Basin moves westward and deposits in the central Minas Basin as well. In the Cobequid Bay, sediment moves eastward and deposits in the upper bay.     

UV camera measurements of fumarole field degassing (La Fossa crater,Vulcano Island)

The UV camera is becoming an important new tool in the armory of volcano geochemists to derive high time resolution SO₂ flux measurements. Furthermore, the high camera spatial resolution is particularly useful for exploring multiple-source SO₂ gas emissions, for instance the composite fumarolic systems topping most quiescent volcanoes. Here, we report on the first SO₂ flux measurements from individual fumaroles of the fumarolic field of La Fossa crater (Vulcano Island, Aeolian Island), which we performed using a UV camera in two field campaigns: in November 12, 2009 and February 4, 2010. We derived ~ 0.5 Hz SO₂ flux time-series finding fluxes from individual fumaroles, ranging from 2 to 8.7 t d^?1, with a total emission from the entire system of ~ 20 t d^?1 and ~ 13 t d^?1, in November 2009 and February 2010 respectively. These data were augmented with molar H₂S/SO₂, CO₂/SO₂ and H₂O/SO₂ ratios, measured using a portable MultiGAS analyzer, for the individual fumaroles. Using the SO₂ flux data in tandem with the molar ratios, we calculated the flux of volcanic species from individual fumaroles, and the crater as a whole: CO₂ (684 t d^?1 and 293 t d^?1), H₂S (8 t d^?1 and 7.5 t d^?1) and H₂O (580 t d^?1 and 225 t d^?1).     

Fish distribution patterns and habitat availability in lakes Moreno Este and Moreno Oeste,Patagonia, Argentina

Andean Patagonian lakes are ultraoligotrophic and deep, have simple food webs and low fish diversity and abundance. In this work the distributional abundance data of fish was studied in two interconnected Andean Patagonian lakes with varying proportions of contrasting habitat types. Hydroacoustic data (120 kHz) were used to analyze fish abundance and habitat use during the mixis and stratification periods. Three types of habitat (near shore, surface pelagic and deep pelagic) and two groups of fish, based on size (Big Fish >12 cm total length and Fish Larvae and Small Fish <12 cm total length) were defined. The distribution of both fish groups in these lakes revealed differences in habitat use for each lake and period. Fish group abundance was related to the availability of habitat types, according to the morphology of each lake. The Big Fish group showed preference for the near shore habitat during lake stratification and always appeared as individual targets. The Fish Larvae and Small Fish group used mainly the pelagic habitat during mixis, where they formed dense sound scattering layers. However, during lake stratification many individual targets from this group were found both in pelagic and near shore habitats, which would seem to indicate a change in distributional behavior. This is possibly associated with niche changes in the Galaxiids (Galaxias spp), a key component of Northern Patagonian lake food webs. Lakes like Moreno Oeste, which are morphologically and structurally more complex, could have more diverse fish ensembles with higher abundances. In contrast, lakes of simple morphology with low development of near shore habitats and ample deep zones, like Lake Moreno Este, could present lower Big Fish abundance. The contrasting habitat availability between lakes accounts for the abundances and distribution patterns of each fish group. While in these lakes fish assemblage species composition could depends on the environmental filter, the particular structure of a fish assemblage in terms of the proportional abundances of species depends on proportional habitat type availability. We can speculate that in Andean Patagonian lakes Galaxiids mediate a habitat coupling process critical for the transfer of energy and matter in oligotrophic lakes. We may also consider that the Small Puyen in this type of lake is a keystone prey species that relieves predation pressure on other potential prey. The existence of deep pelagic habitats in numerous deep lakes in the Northern Patagonian Andean region provides not only daytime refuge for Galaxiids, which allows them to maintain their high numbers in the lakes, but could also, in the long term, act as a Galaxiid source for other water bodies.     

Influence of tuna penning activities on soft bottom macrobenthic assemblages

The influence of tuna penning on soft bottom habitat present in the vicinity of tuna pens and at distances 200 m and 1.5 km away, was assessed by comparing attributes of macroinvertebrate assemblages and sediment quality before (November 2000, March 2001) and after (November 2001, April 2002) initiation of the activity. Results from November 2001 indicated a significant increase in sediment organic carbon and organic nitrogen, and a non-significant increase in the abundance of Capitellidae in the vicinity of the cages. Similar results were obtained 200 m from the cages but not 1.5 km away, where the only change was a significant increase in organic nitrogen in sediment. Results from April 2002 indicated no significant change in sediment organic carbon and organic nitrogen, however, mean sediment grain size decreased significantly in the immediate vicinity of the cages. Changes in attributes of the benthic assemblages and sediment resulted from accumulation of uneaten feed-fish on the seabed.     

Density and flow structure in the Clyde Sea front

A well-defined front in temperature and salinity separates the stratified Clyde Sea water from the vertically well mixed water of the North Channel. The detailed structure of the front was observed in autumn 1990 by a combination of, repeated crossings of the front using a ship-borne ADCP and a towed undulating CTD system, and the deployment of a fixed mooring system with temperature, salinity and velocity sensors for a period of 12 days. The results show that the front was situated on the Great Plateau near a contour of log₁₀(H/U³₂)=2.7∼3.7 where H is the water depth and U₂ the amplitude of M₂ tidal velocity. The temperature structure in the Clyde Sea was inverted and the Clyde Sea surface temperature was lower than that of the vertically well mixed water in the North Channel. Since the salinity gradient was stronger than the temperature gradient with fresher water on the surface, the density structure was predominantly controlled by salinity. There were indications of warm and saline bottom water upwelling on the mixed side of the front during spring tides. This upwelling disappeared and the salinity and temperature structure at the front was more diffuse during the neap tide period. A jet-like along-front residual current was observed flowing to the northwest in the surface layer with a counter flow to the southeast in the bottom layer. The vertical difference in velocity was about 9 cm s⁻¹ and was approximately consistent with the shear determined from the thermal wind relation. Both cross- and along-front components of the current observed at the mooring station varied in response to the advection of the front, although both components had large variations with periods of less than one day and several days. The front was advected past the mooring system by a mean flow from the North Channel to the inner basin, while oscillating 3–5 km back and forth with the tidal currents. From the velocity at a current meter mooring and CTD data, the front was estimated to have moved up to 20 km during the observational period and the cross frontal velocity was inferred to be 3–4 cm s⁻¹.     

Spatial distribution and ecology of the Recent Ostracoda from Tangra Yumco and adjacent waters on the southern Tibetan Plateau: A key to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

We elucidate the ecology of Recent Ostracoda from a deep brackish lake, Tangra Yumco (30°45′—31°22′N and 86°23′—86°49′E, 4595 m a.s.l.) and adjacent waters on the southern Tibetan Plateau. Ostracod associations (living and empty valves) in sixty-six sediment samples collected from diverse aquatic habitats (lakes, estuary-like water and lagoon-like water waters, rivers, ponds and springs) were quantitatively assessed.Eleven Recent Ostracoda were found (nine living and two as empty valves only). Cluster analysis established two significant (p < 0.05) habitat specific associations; (i) Leucocytherella sinensis, Limnocythere inopinata, Leucocythere? dorsotuberosa, Fabaeformiscandona gyirongensis and Candona xizangensis are lacustrine fauna. (ii) Tonnacypris gyirongensis, Candona candida, Ilyocypris sp., Heterocypris incongruens and Heterocypris salina are temporary water species.Ostracod distribution and abundance are significantly (p < 0.05) correlated to physico-chemical variables. The first two axes of a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) explain 30.9% of the variation in the species abundance data. Conductivity and habitat types are the most influential ecological factors explaining the presence and abundance of ostracods. Spearman correlation analysis reveals that: (i) Two species, L.? dorsotuberosa (r = 0.25) and L. inopinata (r = 0.36) have a significant positive correlation with conductivity while one species, T. gyirongensis (r = −0.68) displays a significant negative correlation with conductivity. Limnocythere inopinata correlates significantly positive (r = 0.37) with alkalinity. Fabaeformiscandona gyirongensis correlates significantly positive (r = 0.28) with water depth.Key indicator living assemblages are: (i) L. sinensis dominates Ca-depleted brackish waters although ubiquitously distributed; (ii) L.? dorsotuberosa dwells in fresh to brackish waters; (iii) L. inopinata predominates in mesohaline to polyhaline waters; (iv) F. gyirongensis inhabits exclusively brackish-lacustrine deeper waters; (v) C. candida populates freshwaters; (vi) T. gyirongensis and Ilyocypris sp. are restricted to shallow temporary waters; (vii) H. incongruens occurs in ponds.Water depth indicators are F. gyirongensis and L.? dorsotuberosa, useful in ostracod assemblages for palaeo-water depth reconstruction.Our results expand the knowledge of the ecological significance of Recent Tibetan Ostracoda ecology. This is a new insight on habitat chacteristics of both living assemblages and sub-Recent associations of ostracods in mountain aquatic ecosystems. The new modern ostracod dataset can be used for the quantitative reconstruction of past environmental variables (e.g., conductivity) and types of water environment. The key indicator ostracods are relevant in palaeolimnological and climate research on the Tibetan Plateau.     

Ca. 13 Ma strike-slip deformation in coastal Sonora from a large-scale,en-echelon,brittle-ductile,dextral shear indicator: implications for the evolution of the California rift

The Rancho Nuevo semi-circular structure is a geomorphological structure defined by drainage patterns in coastal Sonora, about 160 km NW of Hermosillo. The structure is about 15 by 30 km, and it is cored by felsic to intermediate plutons (granodiorite, monzogranite, quartz-porphyry) covered by Miocene volcanic rocks. This work is focused on the deformation of the intrusives which cover most of study area.The plutons are a co-magmatic suite dated between 71 ± 1.1 and 67.9 ± 1.0 Ma (U-Pb zircon, LA-ICPMS). The most voluminous unit is a granodiorite characterized by conspicuous sigmoidal fractures at the scale of high resolution satellite images, along which rhyolite dikes were emplaced about 13.2 Ma. Magnetic fabric (AMS) and paleomagnetic data were collected from 27 sites in the granodiorite. Magnetic fabrics are weak but well developed, and are characterized by steep foliation planes with strikes that follow the sigmoidal fracture pattern and suggest NE-SW to NW-SE flattening after emplacement. The characteristic magnetization is of dual polarity, but it is dominantly reverse consistent with emplacement during chron C31r. The prevalent magnetization is southwest and moderately steep negative (ten sites), a discordant direction rotated clockwise about 41 ° ± 11 with respect to the expected Late Cretaceous reference direction, also indicating gentle southward tilt. There is, however, paleomagnetic evidence suggesting that the structure did not rotate as a rigid body, but it deformed internally instead. These data are interpreted to indicate that the Rancho Nuevo semicircular structure is a large-scale, dextral, brittle-ductile shear indicator. The age of the dikes and the fact that they are covered discordantly by rocks assigned to the tuff of San Felipe indicate that northwest, srike-slip, motion of Baja California peninsula (and thus the Pacific plate relative to North America) was accommodated by faults in coastal Sonora about 13 Ma ago.     

Noctilucent cloud in the western Arctic in 2005: Simultaneous lidar and camera observations and analysis

We report observations of a noctilucent cloud (NLC) over central Alaska by a ground-based lidar and camera on the night of 9–10 August 2005. The lidar at Poker Flat Research Range (PFRR), Chatanika (65°N, 147°W) measured a maximum integrated backscatter coefficient of 2.4×10^?6 sr^?1 with a peak backscatter coefficient of 2.6×10^?9 m^?1 sr^?1 corresponding to an aerosol backscatter ratio of 120 at an altitude of 82.1 km. The camera at Donnelly Dome, 168 km southeast of PFRR, recorded an extensive NLC display across the sky with distinct filamentary features corresponding to wave structures measured by the lidar. The occurrence of the maximum integrated backscatter coefficient corresponded to the passage of a bright cloud band to the southwest over PFRR. The camera observations indicate that the cloud band had a horizontal width of 50 km and a length of 150 km. The horizontal scale of the cloud band was confirmed by medium-frequency radar wind measurements that reported mesopause region winds of 30 m/s to the southwest during the period when the cloud band passed over PFRR. Comparison of these measurements with current NLC microphysical models suggests a lower bound on the water vapor mixing ratio at 83 km of 7–9 ppmv and a cloud ice mass of 1.5–1.8×10³ kg. Satellite measurements show that this NLC display occurred during a burst of cloud activity that began on 5 August and lasted for 10 days. This cloud appeared 10 days after a launch of the space shuttle. We discuss the appearance of NLCs in August over several years at this lower polar latitude site in terms of planetary wave activity and space shuttle launches.     

Systematic deflection and offset of the Yangtze River drainage system along the strike-slip Ganzi-Yushu-Xianshuihe Fault Zone,Tibetan Plateau

The Ganzi-Yushu-Xianshuihe Fault Zone (GYXFZ) is a typical active strike-slip fault that has triggered many large historic earthquakes, including the 2010 M_w 6.9 Yushu earthquake in the central Tibetan Plateau. This fault zone extends for ca. 800 km from the central Tibetan Plateau to its southeastern margin and varies in trend from WNW-ESE in the northwestern segment of the fault zone to NNW-SSE in the southeastern segment, having the geometry of an arc projecting northeastwards. In this study, we present evidence for the systematical sinistral deflection and/or offset of the Yangtze River and its branch stream channels and valleys along the GYXFZ. Topographic analysis of three-dimensional (3D) perspective images constructed using digital elevation model (DEM) data, 0.5 m-resolution WorldView and GeoEye images, and 15 m-resolution Landsat-Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) images, together with analysis of geological structures, reveals the following: (i) the main river channels and valleys of the Yangtze River drainage system show systematic sinistral deflections and/or offsets along the GYXFZ; (ii) various amounts of sinistral offset have accumulated on the tributary stream channels, valleys, and gullies of the Yangtze River along the fault, with a linear relation, D = aL, between the upstream length L from the deflected point and the offset amount D with a certain coefficient a; (iii) the maximum amount of sinistral offset is up to ca. 60 km, which was accumulated in the past 13–5 Ma; and (iv) the long-term average strike-slip rate is ca. 4.6–12 mm/year. Geological and geomorphic evidence, combined with geophysical data, demonstrates that the GYXFZ is currently active as one of the major seismogenic faults in the Tibetan Plateau, dominated by left-lateral strike-slip motion. Our findings supply important evidence for the tectonic evolution of strike-slip faults in the Tibetan Plateau since the Eurasia-India continental collision.     

Large internal waves in Massachusetts Bay transport sediments offshore

A field experiment was carried out in Massachusetts Bay in August 1998 to assess the role of large-amplitude internal waves (LIWs) in resuspending bottom sediments. The field experiment consisted of a four-element moored array extending from just west of Stellwagen Bank (90-m water depth) across Stellwagen Basin (85- and 50-m water depth) to the coast (24-m water depth). The LIWs were observed in packets of 5–10 waves, had periods of 5–10 min and wavelengths of 200–400 m, and caused downward excursions of the thermocline of as much as 30 m. At the 85-m site, the current measured 1 m above bottom (mab) typically increased from near 0 to 0.2 m/s offshore in a few minutes upon arrival of the LIWs. At the 50-m site, the near-bottom offshore flow measured 6 mab increased from about 0.1 to 0.4–0.6 m/s upon arrival of the LIWs and remained offshore in the bottom layer for 1–2 h. The near-bottom currents associated with the LIWs, in concert with the tidal currents, were directed offshore and sufficient to resuspend the bottom sediments at both the 50- and 85-m sites. When LIWs are present, they may resuspend sediments for as long as 5 hours each tidal cycle as they travel westward across Stellwagen Basin. At 85-m water depth, resuspension associated with LIWs is estimated to occur for about 0.4 days each summer, about the same amount of time as caused by surface waves.     

A case study of the evolution of a Kelvin–Helmholtz wave and turbulence in noctilucent clouds

Bright and extensive noctilucent clouds (NLC) were observed in Århus (Denmark) on 3/4 July of 2008 with an automatic digital camera taking images every minute. This event was unique in the sense that bright NLC were seen at high elevation angles (more than 30°) that allowed observing the evolution of a Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) wave, resulted in well-developed turbulence. In particular, coherent vortex structures of a horseshoe-shaped form were observed for the first time in noctilucent clouds. The turbulent diffusion coefficient and turbulent energy dissipation rate around the mesopause are estimated in the range 162–667 m²/s and 300–1235 mW/kg, respectively, representing a case of strong neutral air turbulence in noctilucent clouds. Turbulent structures were observed to be in the vicinity of breaking small-scale gravity waves that seems to be responsible for a high level of turbulence.At the same time, it has been demonstrated that it is of importance to take into account non-turbulent process such as the gravity wave motion that is always present in NLC layers. Unless non-turbulent process is taken into account, this certainly leads to overestimating of the value of the turbulent diffusion coefficient. More accurate characteristics of turbulence in NLC can be obtained by analyzing a sequence of high-resolution images with a high frame-rate high-resolution digital camera.     

Prediction of the consumption rates for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) on the scale of habitat patches: Development of empirical models based on stomach contents

Rivers and streams are unstable environments in which estimation of energetic costs and benefits of habitat utilization are the daunting exercise. Empirical models of food consumption may be used to estimate energetic benefits based on abiotic and biotic conditions in patches of habitat. We performed thirty daily surveys of fish stomach contents to estimate the consumption rates for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a river. The data were used to assess whether variations of daily consumption rates existed within the river, and to develop empirical models that could predict fish consumption rates using abiotic and biotic conditions as independent variables. Daily consumption rates based on stomach content surveys in the field (range: 0.15–1.49 g dry/(100 g wet day)) varied significantly depending on habitat patch (500–1000 m²), summer period, and sampling year. Variables such as water temperature, numerical density of salmon, water depth and moon phase explained 83–93% of the variations in daily food consumption rates. Daily consumption rates tended to increase with water temperature and depth, and were also higher near a full moon. However, they tended to decrease with the numerical density of salmon. Our work suggests that empirical models based on independent variables that are relatively simple to estimate in the field may be developed to predict fish consumption rates in different habitat patches in a river.     

Study of large-scale deformation induced by gravity on the La Clapière landslide (Saint-Etienne de Tinée,France) using numerical and geophysical approaches

The large-scale deformation of high mountain slopes finds its origin in many phenomena with very different time-constants. Gravitational effect, tectonic forces, and water infiltration are generally the principal causes. However, it is always very difficult to distinguish which cause is dominant and which are their respective effects. A two-dimensional numerical experiment coupled with geophysical approach was carried out to determine (1) the effect of gravitational force on the mechanical behaviour of the “la Clapière” area, (2) a 2D-depth structure of this landslide. The results show that gravitational instability is possible and leads to destabilisation of the massif by a regressive evolution of the landslide from the bottom at 1100 m up to a height of 1800 m, which is actually the top of the La Clapière landslide. This deformation progression only concerns a depth of around 150 ± 50 m, which can be correlated to the sliding surface, as suggested by our electrical data obtained by resistivity investigations and previous studies. Our numerical results suggest that changes of the slope topography “drive” the diffusion of the plastic deformation in the mass, possibly through a channel which could be then the privileged zone along which the fracture is initiated.     

Comparison of OSL ages from young dune sediments with a high-resolution independent age model

In order to test the accuracy of quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating for young dune sediments (<100 a), a series of aerial images of a migrating sand dune is used to cross validate OSL ages. The investigated dune is situated on the northern part of the island of Sylt (southern North Sea). Based on aerial images and a map from 1925 to 2009 and the internal architecture of the dune obtained by ground-penetrating radar (GPR), an independent age model has been developed to attribute sedimentary-architectural elements of the dune to time. The annual rate of dune migration is calculated to be around 4.1 m/a. Along a 245 m transect oriented parallel to the direction of dune movement, 13 samples for OSL dating were collected at equidistant locations. Sand-sized quartz (150–250 μm) was used for determining the equivalent dose (D_e) applying a single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. Results show that the oldest OSL age from the investigated recent dune appeared to be 110 ± 10 a, whereas the modern analogue was dated to 34 ± 3 a. In comparison with the aerial images, the OSL ages show a systematic overestimation of 10–40 a for six out of seven younger samples, which are expected to be younger than ∼60 a. This offset is negligible for older samples, but a substantial error in these younger ages. The overestimation is originated from a combination of small thermal transfer of 4–12 mGy during preheat and incomplete bleaching in medium OSL component causing a residual dose of about 15 mGy. The contribution of the incompletely bleached medium component cannot be removed totally by an early background subtraction approach. Despite the observed offset for youngest samples, this study corroborates the suitability of the OSL technique to date young dune sediments (<100 a).     

Fine-sediment transport associated with cold-front passages on the shallow shelf,Gulf of Mexico

The eastern part of the chenier plain of the Louisiana coast has been prograding seaward over the last few decades while much of the rest of the Louisiana coast is experiencing high erosion rates. The source of sediment is the Atchafalaya River, which has been delivering sediment to the coastal ocean since the 1940s. Researchers have suggested that the repeated passage of cold fronts during winter and early spring plays an important role in delivering sediment to the coast. A sediment-transport study on the Atchafalaya coast was conducted between October 1997 and March 2001, which included several field experiments in early March, the period of high discharge from the Atchafalaya and frequent cold-front activity. A combination of shipboard profiling and time-series measurements from a bottom tripod and array of wave sensors on the inner shelf has resulted in a data set that illustrates the mechanism of onshore transport. For a cold-front passage sampled in 2001, during pre-front conditions, sediment is resuspended and mixed throughout the water column, with transport rates onshore and to the west of 53 and 184 g s⁻¹ m⁻¹, respectively. Post-front conditions also result in onshore transport due to onshore flow (upwelling) in the lower meter of the water column and formation of a high-concentration bottom layer. Post-front onshore transport rates are 32 g s⁻¹ m⁻¹ and most of the transport occurs in the bottom meter of the water column. The repeated cycling of cold-front passages leads to a positive feedback with transport onshore during both pre- and post-front conditions, and effective attenuation of wave energy over the muddy inner shelf inhibits erosion at the coast. Thus, the chenier-plain coast is experiencing high progradation rates (up to 29 m yr⁻¹), while most of the Gulf coast is eroding.     

Hypoxia in Manila Bay,Philippines during the northeast monsoon

Herein we present results from one of the first extensive bay-wide oceanographic surveys of Manila Bay, wherein 31 stations were sampled during the northeast monsoon (cold and dry season). A band of hypoxic bottom water (dissolved oxygen <2.8 mg/L) spanned the midsection of the bay from east to west. Bottom nitrate concentrations (5.7–16.8 μM; avg. 11.1 μM) and total organic carbon values in sediments (1.7–3.1%; avg. 2.4%) were high in the midsection, which coincided with the band of hypoxic bottom water. Physical processes and site-specific accumulation of organic material likely lead to hypoxic conditions in Manila Bay, even during the northeast monsoon period when the water column is relatively well mixed. The results of this study complement the previously reported widespread hypoxia that occurs during the rainy season. Thus, hypoxia may be pervasive in the bay throughout the year, although it varies in intensity and spatial extent.     

Inorganic carbon and nutrient fluxes on the Arctic Shelf

Historic data from the Russian-American Hydrochemical Atlas of Arctic Ocean together with data from the TRANSDRIFT II 1994 and TUNDRA 1994 cruises have been used to assess the spatial and inter-annual variability of carbon and nutrient fluxes, as well as air–sea CO₂ exchange in the Laptev and western East Siberian Seas during the summer season. Budget computations using summer data of dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) gives that the Laptev Sea shelf is a net sink of DIP and DIN of 2.5×10⁶, 23.2×10⁶ mol d⁻¹, respectively, while it is a net source of DIC (excluding air–sea exchange) of 1249×10⁶ mol d⁻¹. In the East Siberian Seas the budget computations give 0.5×10⁶, −11.4×10⁶ and −173×10⁶ mol d⁻¹ (minus being a sink) for DIP, DIN, and DIC, respectively. In summers, the Laptev Sea Shelf is net autotrophic while the East-Siberian Sea Shelf is net heterotrophic, and both systems are weak net denitrifying. The Laptev Sea Shelf takes up 2.1 mmol CO₂ m⁻² d⁻¹ from atmosphere, whereas the western part of the East-Siberian Sea Shelf loose 0.3 mmol CO₂ m⁻² d⁻¹ to the atmosphere. The variability of DIP, DIN and DIC fluxes during summer in the different regions of the Laptev and East Siberian Seas depends on bottom topography, river runoff, exchange with surrounding seas and wind field.     

Effects of rainfall on oil droplet size and the dispersion of spilled oil with application to Douglas Channel,British Columbia,Canada

Raindrops falling on the sea surface produce turbulence. The present study examined the influence of rain-induced turbulence on oil droplet size and dispersion of oil spills in Douglas Channel in British Columbia, Canada using hourly atmospheric data in 2011–2013. We examined three types of oils: a light oil (Cold Lake Diluent - CLD), and two heavy oils (Cold Lake Blend - CLB and Access Western Blend - AWB). We found that the turbulent energy dissipation rate produced by rainfalls is comparable to what is produced by wind-induced wave breaking in our study area. With the use of chemical dispersants, our results indicate that a heavy rainfall (rain rate > 20 mm h^? 1) can produce the maximum droplet size of 300 μm for light oil and 1000 μm for heavy oils, and it can disperse the light oil with fraction of 22–45% and the heavy oils of 8–13%, respectively. Heavy rainfalls could be a factor for the fate of oil spills in Douglas Channel, especially for a spill of light oil and the use of chemical dispersants.